This bill expands federal authority to detect, track, and disable drones that pose threats to sensitive facilities and infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice gain broad powers to intercept drone communications, disable or destroy aircraft, and seize equipment when protecting airports, government buildings, critical infrastructure, and special events. The bill also creates a five-year pilot program allowing up to 60 state and local law enforcement agencies (starting with up to 12) to take similar actions under federal oversight, though this authority expires after six years. All drone-related actions are subject to privacy protections requiring compliance with the First and Fourth Amendments, limiting data retention to 180 days unless needed for investigations, and restricting information sharing. The legislation requires semiannual briefings to Congress on all drone operations and their impact on the national airspace system, with agencies coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration to prevent interference with legitimate aviation. The main authorities terminate after seven years, and the bill establishes a federal database for tracking drone-related security incidents.
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